Venerable Fulton J. Sheen - If You Want to Grow Closer to Jesus, Give Him Your Time

There are times when we ask:

How can I grow closer to Jesus?

Should I read another book?

Begin another novena?

Find another devotion?

Listen to another talk?

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen had a remarkably simple answer woven throughout his priestly life:

Spend time with Jesus.

Sheen became famous as a preacher, writer, bishop, and television personality.

But behind the public apostolate was something much quieter.

For decades, he was devoted to making a daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.

Before the books.

Before the talks.

Before the television cameras.

There was Jesus.

And Sheen kept showing up.

Who Was Fulton Sheen?

Fulton J. Sheen was born in 1895 in Illinois and ordained a priest in 1919.

He became one of the best-known Catholic voices of the twentieth century.

Millions encountered Catholic teaching through his radio program The Catholic Hour and later his television program Life Is Worth Living.

He had an extraordinary ability to explain the Faith in a way ordinary people could understand.

But Sheen understood that an apostolate cannot survive on talent alone.

A priest cannot give Jesus to others if he does not first spend time with Jesus himself.

That is why the Holy Hour became such an important part of his life.

The Hour That Gave Him Strength

Sheen called his daily time before the Blessed Sacrament his Hour of Power.

He made a resolution as a young priest to spend an hour each day in the presence of Our Lord.

And he continued.

Busy days.

Travel days.

Speaking engagements.

Exhausting days.

Days when prayer probably felt fruitful.

Days when it probably did not.

He kept returning to Jesus.

That teaches us something important:

You do not develop a deep relationship with Jesus only by thinking about Him.

You spend time with Him.

What Will You Give Jesus?

We can easily spend an hour watching television.

An hour scrolling through our phones.

An hour worrying.

An hour talking about our problems.

An hour researching an intention we have already prayed about.

An hour wondering what will happen next.

But what about Jesus?

If you truly want to become closer to Him, ask yourself:

What am I willing to give Him?

Could you give Him an hour?

Could you begin with thirty minutes?

Could you begin with fifteen?

The important thing is to begin.

“But I Don't Know What to Do for an Entire Holy Hour”

You do not need to fill every minute with words.

A Holy Hour is not a performance.

You are visiting Jesus.

Begin simply.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Look toward the Tabernacle or monstrance.

And say:

“Jesus, I am here.”

Then tell Him what is happening in your life.

Thank Him.

Ask forgiveness.

Read a little Scripture.

Pray a decade of the Rosary.

Bring Him your intentions.

Pray for your family.

Pray for priests.

Pray for the Church.

And then—

be quiet.

You do not always need to say something.

Sometimes love simply remains.

Bring Him the Intention You Cannot Stop Thinking About

Perhaps there is one intention dominating your prayer life.

Bring it into your Holy Hour.

Tell Jesus exactly what you desire.

Then say:

“Jesus, Thou already knowest this intention. I am not going to spend this entire hour worrying about it. I place it in Thy Sacred Heart. Now I simply want to be with Thee.”

That can be an enormous act of trust.

Your intention brought you into the chapel.

But perhaps Jesus intends to use that intention to bring you closer to Himself.

Don't Make Your Holy Hour Another Hour of Worry

This is easy to do.

We sit before Jesus and mentally repeat:

What if?

When?

How?

Why hasn't anything changed?

What does this mean?

What should I do?

Bring those questions to Him.

But eventually say:

“Jesus, I surrender the questions too.”

Then look at Him.

You may not leave Adoration knowing what happens next.

But you can leave knowing something far more important:

You were with Jesus.

The Eucharist Changes Us

The purpose of Adoration is not simply to obtain answers.

It is to become more deeply united with Christ.

You may enter the chapel asking:

“Jesus, when are You going to change this situation?”

And over time find yourself praying:

“Jesus, while I wait, change me.”

Make me more patient.

More charitable.

More humble.

More trusting.

More forgiving.

Less attached to control.

More willing to accept Thy will.

More in love with Thee.

That is already an answered prayer.

Your Holy Hour Doesn't Have to Feel Holy

Some days you may feel tremendous peace.

Other days you may feel distracted.

Tired.

Restless.

Bored.

Worried.

You may look at the clock ten times.

Stay anyway.

Love is not measured only by emotion.

Sometimes one of the greatest things you can say to Jesus is:

“Lord, I don't feel anything extraordinary today. But I came because Thou art here.”

That is faith.

Pray for Someone During Your Holy Hour

Bring someone with you spiritually.

Your spouse.

Your children.

Your parents.

Someone who has left the Faith.

Someone who is sick.

Someone struggling with addiction.

Someone who has hurt you.

Someone you cannot help.

Someone who desperately needs conversion.

Place that person before the Tabernacle and say:

“Jesus, I cannot change this person. But Thou lovest this soul more than I ever could. I leave this person with Thee.”

Then resist taking them back through worry.

A Simple Holy Hour With Fulton Sheen

If you do not know where to begin, try this:

First 15 minutes — Adoration

Simply adore Jesus.

“Jesus, Thou art my Lord and my God.”

Second 15 minutes — Thanksgiving

Thank Him for everything you can remember.

Your Faith.

Your family.

Your life.

The Eucharist.

Answered prayers.

Even blessings you usually overlook.

Third 15 minutes — Reparation & Surrender

Ask forgiveness for your sins.

Offer reparation to the Sacred Heart.

Give Jesus your worries, fears, sins, attachments, and need for control.

Final 15 minutes — Petition

Pray for your family.

The Church.

Priests.

The Holy Souls.

Conversions.

The sick.

Your biggest intention.

Then finish:

“Jesus, I have asked. Now I trust Thee.”

Prayer Before Your Holy Hour

O Jesus,
truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
I have come to spend this time with Thee.

I bring Thee my joys.

My worries.

My family.

My work.

My suffering.

My future.

And the intention that is especially upon my heart:

[Mention your intention.]

I ask Thee for this grace with confidence.

But I do not want to spend this entire hour asking Thee for things.

I want Thee.

Teach me to know Thee.

Teach me to love Thee.

Teach me to listen.

Quiet everything within me that keeps me from hearing Thy voice.

If I am distracted, bring me back.

If I am tired, accept my tiredness.

If I am worried, teach me surrender.

If I receive no answer today, help me remain faithful anyway.

Jesus, let this hour belong entirely to Thee.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee.

Amen.

Try It for One Month

Perhaps you cannot make a Holy Hour every day.

Begin where you are.

Choose one hour each week.

Put it on your calendar.

Treat it as an appointment.

Because it is.

You have an appointment with Jesus.

Go even when you do not feel like going.

Go when life is peaceful.

Go when everything seems to be falling apart.

Go when your prayer has been answered.

Go while you are still waiting.

Do not make Adoration something you seek only during emergencies.

Build a friendship with Jesus there.

Make a Holy Hour for Someone Else

One of the most beautiful gifts you can give someone costs nothing.

Give them an hour with Jesus.

Tell them:

“I'm making my Holy Hour for you today.”

Then bring their intentions before the Blessed Sacrament.

You may not be able to fix their situation.

You may not know what advice to give.

But you can bring them to Jesus.

Visit Our Parish Bookstore

If you would like to learn more about Fulton Sheen, prayer, the Eucharist, or the spiritual life, visit our parish bookstore.

A good spiritual book can encourage us.

But remember what Sheen's example ultimately teaches:

Eventually, close the book and look at Jesus.

What Will You Do to Grow Closer to Jesus?

Fulton Sheen reached millions of people.

He wrote books.

He preached.

He taught.

He appeared on television.

But behind all of it was an ordinary practice repeated again and again:

He showed up for Jesus.

Maybe that is what Jesus is asking from you too.

Not another complicated spiritual plan.

Not another hour spent analyzing your life.

Just:

Come visit Me.

Bring your Rosary.

Bring your Bible.

Bring your intention.

Bring your worries.

Bring your tiredness.

Bring absolutely nothing if necessary.

Just come.

And when you do not know what to say:

“Jesus, I am here because I love Thee. Teach me to love Thee more.”

Then stay.

One quiet hour at a time.

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us.

Most Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us.